Kutak Rock is proud to have sponsored the 2024 Central Iowa Skilled Trades Apprenticeship Expo, an event designed to inspire the next generation of skilled trades professionals. Held by the Iowa Pipe Trades and HVAC Training Institute, the Expo attracted approximately 2,000 Iowa high school students, offering them the chance to explore apprenticeship programs and engage with hands-on experiences including welding and crane operation.

Jason Kotlyarov, a Kutak Rock attorney specializing in ERISA apprenticeship funds, attended the event, which showcased apprenticeship programs that provide valuable on-the-job training while students earn wages and receive benefits. Many apprenticeship programs offer exceptional employee benefits like health insurance, pensions, and 401(k) plans to help skilled workers secure their futures with strong healthcare and retirement options.

Several of the apprenticeship programs at the Expo are clients of Kutak Rock. Jason works closely with them to ensure compliance with regulatory guidelines, provide legal counsel, and assist in negotiating contracts and service agreements. His work also includes training trustees and instructors on issues like anti-harassment, fiduciary duties and cyber security.

Kutak Rock’s donation was used to help provide lunch for the attending students and further demonstrates the firm’s support for union apprenticeship programs and its commitment to fostering opportunities in the skilled trades industry.

Jason focuses his practice on providing full-service representation to employee benefit plans, plan sponsors and fiduciaries, which includes issues pertaining to governance, compliance, amendment/policy review and drafting and litigation. He is one of the few attorneys in the nation who specializes in representing registered apprenticeship plans, including standards and policy review, program compliance with applicable Department of Labor and state apprenticeship laws, advising on complex prohibited transactions issues unique to apprenticeship plans, scholarship loans, employment law issues, and more.